Engine lubricating device



Dec. 13, 1932. E. J. GULICK 1,890,984

ENGINE LUBRICATING DEVICE Filed Dec. 6, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l E mumInn-1m a q I\ \l Ea]. &5 r i V "1% ll 1. I

Dec. 13, 1932.

E. J. GULICK ENGINE LUBRICATING DEVICE Patented Dec. 13, 1932 UNITEDSTATES EDWARD J. GULICK, OF ELKHART, INDIANA ENGINE Lunmcnrme DnvIcnApplication filed December 6, 1929. Serial No. 412,250.

My invention relates to internal combustion engines, and particularly tothe means for engine lubrication.

The present prevailing practice in inter- 5 nal combustion enginelubrication, especially motor car engines, consists in pumping oil froma pool carried in the engine base and circulating it through thelubrication circulatory system to the various engine bearings. In such as stem dirt, water, carbon, gasoline, and 0t er deleterious substancesaccumulate in the engine base, mix with the lubricant, and arecontinuously circulated with the lubricant to the engine bearings,thereby impairing the quality of the lubricant.

And in such a system considerable water accumulates in the engine basein winter by condensation, and otherwise, and when a motor car standsidle, the water forms a pool in the bottom of the engine oil-pan andfreezes in severe winter weather, whereby the oil suction pipe, whichextends to the oil-pan bottom, is closed and the lubrication system isrendered useless.

to improve and simplify the mechanism shown and described in my LettersPatent of the United States, No. 1,369,239, of Feb. 22,1921.

Another object of the invention is to effect a direct communicationbetween the oil pump and the oil suction pipe. I

A third object of the invention is to effect 5 a rigid connectionbetween the oil suction The principal object of this invention isings,wherein Figure 1 is a section in elevation through an engine base towhich my invention is applied;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view. in elevation, partially broken away, showingthe suction pipe, the float, and the flanged connection to the pump;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the float and screen, broken away;

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating a modification of thedevice in combination with baflle means and. stop means for limiting themovement of the float and suction pipe;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the baflle plate and a portion of the pumpelbow;

Fig. Sillustrates a plan view of a modified form of the baflle plate; i

Fig. 9 illustrates still another modification of the bafile plate; and

Fig. 10 shows a side elevational View of the baffle plate illustrated inFig. 8.

Similar numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the severalviews on the drawings.

Referring to the details of the drawings the numeral 1 represents thecrank-case of a multi cylinder internal combustion engine within whichis mounted the usual crank-shaft 2 having the usual bearings 3, 3 and anoil-pan 4 suitably connected with said crank-case. The numeral 5indicates an oil circulation pump suitably mounted in the engine baseand which may be operated by the upright tion is illustrated in theaccompanying draw- I shaft 6, the latter being driven by the gears 7 and8 carried, respectively, by said shaft and the engine cam shaft 9.

The oil-pan 4 contains the usual pool of lubricant 10 adapted to becirculated to the shaft bearings 3, 3 through the pump deliv ery pipes12, 12. The oil pump 5 may be of any suitable type, but as illustrated,it is a gear pump of a well known design, being provided with thesuction inlet port 13 which is in communication with the bore 14 of thedepending suction elbow 15 which may be fastened to said pump by screws16. The outer end of the elbow 14 has its axis disposed in a horizontal.plane and may be counter-bored at 17 to receive the cylindrical tubularend 18 of the suction pipe elbow 19 with which the suction pipe 20 isrigidly connected, there the elbow 15 by screws 23, an arcuate portion.

of which plate overlies a part of said flange 21.

The outer end of the suction pipe 20 car-- ries the float element 24rigidly connected therewith, the latter being adapted to float upon thesurface of the oil pool 10 to buoyantly sustain the pipe 20 therein tocause the latter to swing in a vertical plane as the level of said oilpool may vary. Float element 24 may be annular in formation and ispreferably made of thin sheet metal, and may comprise the bottom andside wall section 25 and 26, respectively, struck from a single sheet ofductile metal, and the annular cover 27 secured to the upper edge ofsaid side-wall section by solder, or otherwise in any suitable manner.The suction ipe 20 extends through a suitable aperture 1n the floatsidewall 26 to the center of the float body and has its downwardlyturned inlet elbow 28 rigidly secured, by solder or otherwise, in theaperture 29 formed centrally in the float bottom wall 25, whereby theorifice of the elbow 28 is held in permanent communication with the poolof lubricant adjacent its surface regardless of the varying level of theoil pool. The numeral 301 indicates a wire gauze screen applied to andcovering the bottom of the float to exclude impurities and deleteriousmatter from the oil circulatory system, said screen being spaced fromthe float bottom 25 by a series of depending radially formed ribs 31stamped in said bottom to provide oil conduit channels between saidribs, whereby the oil may move freely to the inlet orifice of the pipeelbow 28. The screen may be secured to said float bottom in any suitablemanner, but the preferred method is illustrated in Fig. 2 of thedrawings and comprises the annular inwardly extending oove 32 stamped inthe bottom edge of the oat side-wall section 26, and extendingcircumferentially thereof, within which groove the upwardly and inwardlyhooked outer periphery 33 of the screen is clamped by compressing thewalls of said groove upon said screen.

The retaining plate 22 may be provided with the integral furcations 34and 35, which are curved outwardly and arranged in spaced relation,respectively, above and below the elbow 19 and adapted to serve as stopelements to limit the upward and downward movement of the pipe 20.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 6 the construction of the float24 contemplates an upwardly dished lower wall section 36 suitablyapertured at 29 to receive the elbow 28 of the pipe 20. To accommodatesuch a structure t e pipe 20 may be upwardly curved or bent at 37 withinthe float. And in Fig. 6 the numeral 38 represents a stationary annularoil control or bafiie element, or plate, which, as illustrated, isintegral with the lower prong of the retaining plate ,22, and which mayhave a depending leg 39 at its forward end to hold or support saidbaflle.

plate in spaced relation with the bottom of pan 4, whereby the oil iscaused to flow over the outer periphery of said baflie, from all pointsthereof, to the float center, in a substantially horizontal plane,before it enters the inlet orifice of the pipe 20. I In this manner anydeleterious substance on the oil pan bottom is not readily taken intothe suction pipe or picked up by the screen 30.

To control the movements of the float 24 upper and lower stop means areprovided, and in Fig. 6 the upright post 39, secured to the plate 38 at40, has laterally bent upper and lower stop elements 41 and 42,respectively, preferably integral therewith, the latter serving also tospace the float screen30 from the upper face of the bafile 38 when thefloat is at its lowest position. Under some circumstances it may beadvisable to hunt the upward travel of the float to a plane below thestop 41, and even confine it rigidly in contact with the lower stop 42.There is therefore provided a headed upright adjusting stop screw 43threaded into the enlarged end 44 of the prong 34 of plate 22 (Fig. 6)and adapted to contact with the elbow 19 and which may be manuallyadjusted to confine the float in contact with stop 42.

Obviously, the stop screw 43 may be so adjusted as to permit limitedupward movement from the stop 42, if so desired.

In Figures 8 and 10 a modified form of the baflle plate 38 is shown,wherein the body thereof is segregated from plate 22 and is providedwith a plurality of legs 45 which are suitably apertured at 46 toreceive fas tener screws 47 for securing the baffle in spaced relationwith the oil pan bottom, and wherein a stop element 42' is providedintegrally therewith and bent inwardly from one edge thereof.

In Fig. 9 another modification of the baffle 38 is illustrated, andtherein the annular baflie body is provided with a plurality of upwardlybent integral fastener lugs 48 which may be riveted to the side wall ofthe float 24 to secure said bafile below. the float screen and in spacedrelation thereto.

In operation, it will be obvious that the pipe is buoyantly sustained inthe oil pool 10 and that the inlet orifice of the elbow 28 of said pipewill always be held in communication with the oil pool at a pointadjacent the surface thereof and remote from the oil pan bottom wherewater and deleterious matter collect. It will also be evident that thepivotal mount of the suction pipe 20 enables the float 24 to readilyadjust itself to the varying level of the oil pool when the latter isagitated or reduced inquantity for any reason, and also that any iceformation, due to water accumulation, will be on the oil pan bottom andremote from the inlet orifice of the suction pipe elbow 28.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, and in combination, an oilpump, a pivotally mounted oil suction pipe adaptedto swing in a verticalplane, an oil conduit connecting said suction pipe with the pump, ahollow float element rigidly mounted upon said suction pipe, said floatbeing made of sheet metal and provided with an annular peripheral grooveformed in its side-wall, the bottom wall of said float being providedwith radially arranged depending ribs to form channels therein, and ascreen arranged over said bottom wall ribs and having its outer edgemgidly secured in said side -wall groove.

2. In combination, an internal combustion engine provided with an oilpan or container,

an oil pump, a floatable oil suction element operatively connected withsaid pump and provided with an oil inlet orifice, and a bafile platecarried by said oil suction element on the under side thereof and spacedtherefrom.

3. In combination, an internal combustion engine provided with an oilpan or container, an oil pump, a floatable oil suction elementoperatively connected with said pump and provided with an oil inletorifice, a screen mounted on the under side of said suction element, anda baffle plate carried by said oil suction element on the under sidethereofand spaced therefrom.

4. The combination with an internal com-- bustion engine provided withan oil pan or container and an oil pump, of a fioatable oil suctionelement operatively connected with said pump and provided with an oilinlet orifice, and a baflle plate carried by said oil suction element onthe under side thereof and spaced therefrom.

5. The combination with an internal combustion engine provided with anoil pan and an oil pump mounted relatively to said oil pan, of apivotally mounted oil suction pipe operatively connected with said pumpand adapted to swing in a vertical plane, a float connected with saidsuction pipe, a baflle plate, and means for securing said baflie plateon the under side of said float and spaced therefrom.

6. The combination with an internal combustion engine provided with anoil pan and "adapted to swing in a vertical plane, a float connectedwith said suctionpipe and, provided with a screen on its under side, abaflle plate of substantially the same size as said float screen, andmeans for securing said baflle plate below said float screen and inspaced relation thereto.

7. The combination with an internal combustion engine provided with anoil pan and an oil pump mounted relatively to said oil pan, of an elbowadapted to be dependingly connected with said pump, an oil suction pipepivotally connected with said elbow and adapted to swing in a verticalplane, a float connected with said suction pipe, and a baflle platecarried by said flo'at on the under side thereof and s aced therefrom:

8. The com ination with aninternalcombust on engine provided with an oilpan and an oil pump mounted relatively to said oil pan, an oil suctionpipe provided with an elbow which is pivotally-connected with said Iplane, a float connected with said suction pipe, and a bafile platecarried by said float on theunder side thereof and spaced there from.

9. The combination with an internal combustion engine provided with anoil pan and an oil pump mounted relatively to said oil pan, of an elbowadapted to be dependingly connected with said pump and providing ahorizontal inlet, an oil suction pipe provided with an elbow which ispivotally mounted in said elbow inlet, said suction pipe being adaptedto swing in-a vertical plane, afloat connected with said suction pipe,and a bafile plate carried by said float on the under side thereof andspaced therefrom.

10. The combination with an internal combustion engine provided with anoil pan and an oil pump mounted relatively to said oil pan, of a movablymounted oil suction element operatively connected with said pump, afloat connected with said suction element, and provided with a screen onits under side, and a baffle plate mounted upon said float upon theunder side thereof and spaced there from. I Y

11. The combination with an internal combustion engine provided with anoil pan and an oil pump mounted relatively to said oil pan, of a movablymounted oil suction element operatively connected with said pump, afloat connected with said suction element and provided with a screen onits under side, a bafile plate carried by said float upon'the under sidethereof and spaced therefrom, and

12. In combination, an internal combustion engine provided with a baseand an oilpan, an oil pump, a pivotally mounted oil suction pipeoperatively pump and adapted .to swing in a vertical plane, a floatconnected with said suction pipe, a stationary baflle element arrangedbelow said float and above the oil-pan bottom, and stop means to spacesaid float from said gaffie in the downward movement of said oat.

13. In combination, an internal combustion engine provided with anoil-pan, an oil pump mounted relatively to said oilpan, a pivotallymounted oil suction pipe operatively connected with said pump andadapted to swin in a vertical plane, a float connected with said suctionpipe, and a baffle plate carried by said float on the under side thereofand spaced therefrom.

14. In combination, an internal combustion engine provided with anoil-pan, an oil pump mounted relatively to said oil-pan, a pivotallymounted oil suction pipe operative ly connected with said pump andadapted to swing in a vertical plane, a float connected with saidsuction pipe, a baflle plate carried by said float on the under sidethereof and spaced therefrom, and stop means to space said baflle platefrom the oil-pan bottom.

15. In combination, an internal combustion engine provided with anoil-pan, an oil pump mounted relatively to said oil-pan, a pivotallymounted oil suction pipe operatively connected with said pump andadapted to swing in a vertical plane, a float connected with saidsuction pipe, a bafiie plate carried by said float on the under sidethereof and spaced therefrom, and stop means carried by said baffleplate to space the latter from the oil-pan bottom.

16. In combination, an internal combustion engine provided with anoil-pan, an oil pump mounted relatively to said oil-pan, a pivotallymounted oil suction pipe operatively connected with said pump andadapted to swing in a vertical plane, a float connected with saidsuction 1pc, and a stationary baflle plate arranged elow said float andprovided with means for spacing the float from said bafiie plate, thelatter being fastened to the oil-p an bottom and in spaced relationthereto;

17. In combination, an internal combustion engine provided with anoil-pan, an oil pump mounted relatively to said oil-pan, an elbowconnected with said pump, an oil suction pipe provided with an elbowwhich is pivotally mounted in said pump elbow to enable said suctionpipe to swing in a vertical plane, a retaining element to hold said pumpconnected with said tion engine provided with an oil pan, an oil a pumpmounted relatively to said oil-pan, an elbow connected with saidpump,-an oil suction pipe provided with an elbow which is pivotallymounted in said pump elbow to enable said suction pipe to swing in avertical plane, a retaining plate secured to said pump elbow to hold thelatter and said suction ipe elbow in operative relation, a float mem erconnected with said suction pipe, and upper and lower stop elementsintegral with said elbow retaining plate to limit the upward anddownward swing of said suction pipe.

EDWARD J. GULICK.

